Short answer: if you are a food producer or manufacturer in England and Wales, you will usually need to register your food business with the local authority before you start. Some higher-risk activities — especially certain handling of products of animal origin — may also require premises approval rather than registration alone. The right route depends on what you do, how you process it, and where the food goes in the supply chain. Start with the Food Standards Agency guidance on Food business registration, then verify the exact requirement with the relevant authority before trading.
This guide compares the two routes, explains who issues each one, and helps you prepare the information you are likely to need.
The two routes: what each authorisation does
Food business registration
Food business registration is the general route for businesses that sell, cook, store, handle, prepare, or distribute food. GOV.UK says this usually includes food businesses operating from home, mobile premises, temporary premises, and online operations. Registration is made with the local authority for the premises, or the relevant authority for the business model. Food business registration
Registration tells the regulator that your business is operating and gives the authority a way to inspect or contact you. It is not the same as premises approval, and it does not automatically cover every process, premise, vehicle, or product type.
Premises approval
Premises approval is a separate route used for certain food businesses, especially where the business handles products of animal origin and the activity falls into a category that needs prior approval before trading. In practice, this applies to a narrower set of higher-risk operations than ordinary food registration.
Approval is not a “better” version of registration. It is a different authorisation that may be required instead of, or in addition to, registration depending on the activity and the supply chain.
Which route applies? Start with the activity and the supply chain
A practical way to decide is to ask three questions:
- What food do you handle?
- What are you doing to it?
- Who are you supplying?
That last question matters because some approvals depend on whether products are going to other businesses, retailers, or direct to the public.
Quick decision guide
| Your activity | Likely route | Who issues it | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storing, preparing, cooking, packing or distributing food from a premises | Food business registration | Local authority | Common route for many food businesses |
| Selling food online, from home, from a van, or from a temporary site | Food business registration | Local authority | Registration usually still applies even without a fixed shop |
| Handling certain products of animal origin for onward supply | Premises approval may be needed | Relevant approving authority | Check the exact product and process before trading |
| Multiple sites or different processes | May need more than one route | Different authorities may be involved | A business can have both registration and approval needs |
This is a decision aid, not a legal determination. The official licence finder warns that results may not include every required authorisation, so complex operations should be checked against the relevant regulator. Find a licence
What registration allows — and what it does not
Food business registration generally allows you to operate a food business once the local authority has your details. It is the expected route for many producers, caterers, storage operations, and distributors.
However, registration does not mean:
- you are approved for every food process you carry out;
- one registration covers every site you use;
- you are exempt from other food law duties;
- you can skip separate approvals where those apply.
For example, a business might register a food preparation unit, but still need premises approval for a specific processing line involving products of animal origin. The correct route depends on the exact process and supply chain.
When approval becomes more likely
Premises approval is more likely where the business is doing work that sits outside ordinary retail or low-risk handling.
Typical features that can point towards approval include:
- products of animal origin such as meat, dairy, fish, eggs, or composite products;
- processing for other businesses rather than direct retail only;
- activities that are part of a controlled supply chain;
- higher-risk handling, chilling, cutting, wrapping, or transforming product in a way that triggers approval rules.
The key point is that approval is activity-specific. A producer can have one site, one process, or one product line that needs approval, while other activities at the same business may only need registration.
Retail exemptions: useful, but not automatic
Some food businesses assume that if they sell mainly to consumers, they are always in the “registration only” category. That is not safe.
Retail-facing activity may be part of the picture, but exemptions can be narrow and depend on the scale, nature of processing, and where the food ends up in the supply chain. If your operation includes both retail and non-retail supply, or if you process food before sale, you should check whether the approval rules are triggered.
Because this area is fact-sensitive, treat any possible exemption as a check point, not a conclusion. When in doubt, confirm with the local authority or the relevant food regulator before trading.
Who issues the authorisation?
Food business registration: local authority
For food registration, the issuing body is usually the local authority for the premises or operating base. GOV.UK’s guidance makes clear that food businesses register with the local authority. Food business registration
Premises approval: check the relevant approving authority
Premises approval is handled by the relevant approving authority, which depends on the business category and location. For food businesses in England and Wales, that means checking the local authority route and the food regulator route before submission.
Because approval routes vary by product and process, do not assume the same office handles every case. Use the official guidance for your activity, and confirm jurisdiction before applying.
What evidence to prepare
The evidence you need will vary by route, but a readiness pack helps for both.
Registration evidence checklist
Prepare:
- business name and trading name;
- premises address and any operating locations;
- description of food activities;
- opening date or intended start date;
- contact details for the responsible person;
- details of how food is stored, prepared, handled, or distributed.
Approval evidence checklist
For premises approval, prepare additional detail such as:
- the exact products handled;
- process flow from receipt to dispatch;
- cleaning and hygiene controls;
- temperature control and storage arrangements;
- traceability and batch records;
- supplier and customer categories;
- layout plan of the premises;
- evidence that the premises is suitable for the activity.
For higher-risk food operations, inspection readiness matters. An authority may want to understand your controls before approval is granted, and in some cases may inspect the premises.
Worked example: a small producer handling dairy products
Imagine a small manufacturer in England making chilled dairy products for sale to independent shops and some direct online customers.
A sensible first question is whether the business needs only food registration or whether its product type and supply chain trigger premises approval.
- The business is clearly a food business, so registration is likely required.
- Because the product is a product of animal origin, the business should then check whether the specific process and customer route require premises approval.
- If the operation includes a processing stage that falls within the approval rules, the business may need approval for that site or activity before trading.
- If the business also stores or distributes from a separate depot, that location may need its own registration or approval assessment.
The lesson: one product line can create a different route from another, even within the same company.
A practical decision tree for producers and manufacturers
Use this before you submit anything:
-
Are you operating a food business at all?
If yes, start with food business registration. Food business registration -
Are you handling only low-risk food activities?
If yes, registration is often the main route, but still confirm the exact activity. -
Are you handling products of animal origin?
If yes, check whether the specific process requires premises approval. -
Are you supplying only direct retail, or also other businesses?
The supply chain can change the route. -
Do you operate from more than one site?
Each premises may need separate consideration. -
Do you have a borderline or complex process?
Get confirmation from the relevant authority before relying on an exemption.
Confirm the authority before you apply
The official GOV.UK licence finder is a useful starting point, but it warns that results may not include every required authorisation. Use it as a routing tool, not as the final word. Find a licence
For food businesses, the main practical steps are usually:
- identify the activity;
- identify the premises;
- identify the authority;
- check whether the route is registration, approval, or both.
That same method is useful across other regulated sectors too. The wider lesson is that licensing and approval are rarely one-size-fits-all.
Related guidance
- Start with the parent guide: Food business registration and approval overview
- Use the routing tool: UK business licence finder
- Prepare your submission: Licence application checklist
Check approval requirements
If you are a food producer or manufacturer in England and Wales, the safest next step is to confirm:
- the exact food activity;
- whether your products include products of animal origin;
- whether your supply chain is retail-only or includes business-to-business supply;
- whether your premises need registration, approval, or both.
If your process is unusual, multi-site, or close to an exemption boundary, ask the relevant authority to confirm the route before you apply. That is the quickest way to avoid submitting the wrong authorisation.